ascension

[uh-sen-shuh n]

See more synonyms for ascension on Thesaurus.com

noun

the act of ascending; ascent.
the Ascension, the bodily ascending of Christ from earth to heaven.
(initial capital letter) Ascension Day.

Origin of ascension

1300–50; Middle English ascencioun (< Anglo-French) < Latin ascēnsiōn- (stem of ascēnsiō), equivalent to ascēns(us) risen up (past participle of ascendere, equivalent to ascend- climb up (see ascend) + -tus past participle suffix) + -iōn- -ion

Related formsas·cen·sion·al, adjective

Ascension

[uh-sen-shuh n]

noun

a British island in the S Atlantic Ocean: constituent part of St. Helena. 34 sq. mi. (88 sq. km).

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for ascension

ascent, rise, flying, soaring, rising, mounting, scaling, towering

Examples from the Web for ascension

Contemporary Examples of ascension

Meanwhile, Thaksin has a plan for the day the King dies, counting on the ascension of the Crown Prince to the throne.
The Real Crisis in Thailand is the Coming Royal Succession
Somchai Samizdat
February 22, 2014
He has to navigate all of those in order to continue on his ascension, whether successfully or not.
Beau Willimon on Most Shocking Twists in ‘House of Cards’ Season 2
Andrew Romano
February 15, 2014
The one silver lining of this Rand Paul ascension is that he would put these kooks out of business.
Because It'll Be Different This Time
Michael Tomasky
March 19, 2013
And the apotheosis is complete, an ascension into an empty cloud.
James Wood Gets Personal
Jimmy So
December 21, 2012
Her supporters concocted any number of reasons to promote her ascension to the top floor of Foggy Bottom.
Susan Rice Didn’t Deserve State Post, Let Alone Her U.N. Role
Jacob Heilbrunn
December 14, 2012

Historical Examples of ascension

Just what this angle of ascension may be is difficult to determine.
Flying Machines
W.J. Jackman and Thos. H. Russell
It was Ascension Day, and the commons were a dream of beauty.
A Writer's Recollections (In Two Volumes), Volume II
Mrs. Humphry Ward
She found him looking at Jacob's dream on the one side, the Ascension on the other.
Two Penniless Princesses
Charlotte M. Yonge
To-morrow is Ascension Day and they will be needed in the church.
Sielanka: An Idyll
Henryk Sienkiewicz
One noon, before Ascension Day, Stephan came home to his dinner.
Sielanka: An Idyll
Henryk Sienkiewicz

British Dictionary definitions for ascension

ascension

noun

the act of ascending
astronomy the rising of a star above the horizon

Derived Formsascensional, adjective

Ascension

noun

New Testament the passing of Jesus Christ from earth into heaven (Acts 1:9)

Ascension

noun

an island in the S Atlantic, northwest of St Helena: uninhabited until claimed by Britain in 1815. Pop: 884 (2010 est). Area: 88 sq km (34 sq miles)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for ascension

c.1300, "ascent of Christ into Heaven on the 40th day after the Resurrection," from Latin ascensionem (nominative ascensio) "a rising," noun of action from past participle stem of ascendere "to mount, ascend, go up" (see ascend). Astronomical sense is recorded late 14c.; meaning "action of ascending" is from 1590s. Related: Ascensional.